The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allowed nine agencies, including the Railways, to trim trees on their premises for three years. This is to prevent delay in trimming and to ensure that fallen branches don’t disrupt services, such as train services due to branches falling on tracks.
The BMC has repeatedly been criticised for its tree trimming policies. Sometimes, trees or branches falling on railway tracks or power supply cables disrupt services during monsoon.
The nine agencies are Central Railway, Western Railway, BEST, Metro, Monorail, Airport Authority of India, Maharashtra State Electricity Board, Tata Power and Reliance Energy. The standing permission will mean that the agencies will not need prior clearance from the BMC to trim trees.
“This does not mean that they can trim trees in a haphazard manner. They will have to trim them scientifically and ensure nobody is injured in the process,” said a statement issued by the BMC on Friday.
The agency concerned will have to submit a report with ‘before and after’ pictures to the BMC. It will also be responsible to clear the foliage after trimming. If a tree needs to be cut, however, due process will have to be followed.
According to the rules, it is the responsibility of the owner to trim trees on private premises, while the civic body handles the work on public premises.
